Puglia picked for top spot

Schubert, DeLorenzo sworn in

By:Eve Collins
   MANSFIELD — Careful spending and efficiently run government were the themes at the Mansfield Township reorganization meeting Jan. 1, where Arthur R. Puglia was chosen to serve as mayor.
   In addition, four people were not reappointed to their township positions.
   Along with fellow committee members Patrick J. DeLorenzo and Charles E. Schubert, Mr. Puglia was sworn in before a standing-room-only crowd at the Municipal Complex in Columbus.
   Mr. Puglia and Mr. DeLorenzo were elected to three-year terms on the committee, while Mr. Schubert will be filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Mary Kaklamanis.
   The political makeup of the committee is one Independent (Stupienski), one Democrat (Shea) and three Republicans (DeLorenzo, Schubert and Puglia).
   Once nominated and approved by the committee, Mr. Puglia was sworn in as mayor by John C. Gillespie, the township’s new solicitor.
   His approval was unanimous, but Committeeman Kelly Shea was absent, having announced at the committee’s Dec. 11 meeting that he would be attending his son’s wrestling tournament and visiting family for the holidays.
   "I appreciate this honor," said Mr. Puglia after the ceremony. "I will do my best for the township."
   As the new mayor, Mr. Puglia nominated Mr. DeLorenzo as deputy mayor, while Committeeman Raymond Stupienski nominated Mr. Shea for another term in the position. Mr. DeLorenzo got the job with only Mr. Stupienski voting no.
   "Nothing against Mr. DeLorenzo," Mr. Stupienski said. "In the case that Mr. Puglia is not available, I think someone who has served on the committee before should be deputy mayor."
   One of the first items the new committee tended to was a resolution appointing municipal positions, boards and employees.
   Mr. Gillespie suggested changing the language of the resolution which says the individuals be appointed to the offices listed for the terms indicated, and that they serve in said capacity until the end of the terms, or until successors have been appointed.
   The language change was needed because people in the positions of the deputy clerk, a construction technical assistant and an office assistant position were not reappointed by the committee.
   Because the committee workshop meeting scheduled for Jan. 8 has been canceled, the committee will meet Jan. 16 to discuss the firing of Dee Mayers as deputy clerk, Reta Varga to the construction technical assistant position, and Janice Fenton as a part-time office assistant, as well as Donna Snyder’s clerk/administrator position, said Ms. Snyder.
   The jobs may be discussed in closed session, but the employees want them discussed in the open, Ms. Snyder said. Each employee was served a Rice Notice, which means if their job performance is discussed, the employee can choose to have it discussed in open session, in closed session with only committee members present or in closed session with committee members and the employee in question present.
   In other business, the committee also approved a temporary budget of $955,062.
   Mr. Stupienski wished all new members welcome and said he hoped they would all act in the best interest of the township.
   "Hopefully this committee is committed to continuing what we’ve been doing for the last five years," he said, and added that he was looking forward to working with the new committee on what the Planning and Development Committee started with affordable housing, the township’s Master Plan, and transfer development rights.
   Mr. DeLorenzo promised that the township’s money would be spent "carefully, diligently and not wastefully," and expressed thanks to past committee members.
   Mr. Schubert said after the meeting that they would continue with the hard work of the past committee.
   "A lot of the groundwork has been laid," he said. "What we really needed are ratables to share in the tax burden, and a sewer line down 206 and out to Columbus Road."
   Mr. Puglia said that although taxes might be going up because of the township’s new schools, he promised that the town would be operated efficiently.
   After the meeting, the mayor said there were many items the committee needed to work on for 2003.
   "I believe the biggest thing is to help the school taxes," he said. He also said the township’s growth needed to slow down.
   The following are the residents appointed to the planning and zoning boards. Years in parenthesis indicate the term’s expiration:
   Planning Board: Peter Brescia (2006); Joseph Lawrence (2005); Dalpat Patel (2004); John Stefanoni, Dorothy Wirth, Mr. Puglia, and Mr. DeLorenzo, all whose terms expire in 2003; and alternates Frank Pinto (2003) and Scott Preidel (2004) .
   The Zoning Board of Adjustment: Fred Clark Tom Sensbach (2003); Ralph Wainwright and Joe Chizek (2004); Lisa LaRue and Robert Franchino (2005); William Tahirak (2006); and alternates Grace Fennimore (2003) and Robert Parkerson (2004).